Patriots Owner Kraft Proposes 18-Game NFL Season

At the NFL's annual owners meetings in Phoenix, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft outlined a vision for the league's future schedule, advocating for an expansion to 18 regular-season games paired with measures to enhance player safety and global reach.

Kraft shared his ideas during a media session on Monday, emphasizing long-term growth for the NFL. He proposed reducing preseason games from three to two, adding a second bye week to the regular season, and requiring every team to play at least one international game annually. "I like it long term for the growth and development of the league because, to keep our league healthy and grow revenue, I think preseason games have not been what they used to be," Kraft said. He added that the extra bye week would allow for mindful player safety while enabling more overseas matchups, making the schedule "a lot more exciting for the fans."

The proposal aligns with broader discussions among owners seeking to build on the league's recent expansions. The NFL increased its regular season from 16 to 17 games in 2021, which shortened the preseason and extended the overall calendar to 18 weeks. Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon...